Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowe ZAP-Robotyka Sp. z o.o.

Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowe ZAP-Robotyka Sp. z o.o. is a Polish engineering company based in Ostrów Wielkopolski that designs, manufactures and installs robotic and automation systems for industrial production. According to its official website, the firm has operated for more than 30 years in the field of robotics and the automation of production processes. Its robotics work focuses on robotising specific technologies — chiefly welding, handling and loading, surface treatment, and the servicing of technological workstations. Robotic stations are equipped with rotary positioners, travel tracks and safety systems. On the automation side, ZAP-Robotyka designs and builds assembly, testing and welding stations, and it also supplies technological tooling, manipulators, software and service, as well as modernisation of existing robotic and automated workstations. The company's product and service range is organised around several offer categories: robotised stations, technological stations, positioners, technological tooling, laboratory services, and training and service. It presents its completed installations through a portfolio of projects, films and a map of reference sites, and it has participated in EU-funded projects. The firm is a private limited company (sp. z o.o.) and is not listed on a stock exchange. ZAP-Robotyka traces its name and origins to the state industrial automation enterprise ZAP (Zakłady Automatyki Przemysłowej) in Ostrów Wielkopolski, which at its peak employed more than 3,200 people and was a major Polish supplier of automation, measurement, control and signalling equipment. After 1989 the parent ZAP underwent restructuring and privatisation; its internal units were converted into wholly owned limited companies and then sold off, largely through management buy-outs. One of the resulting private entities was ZAP-Robotyka, which continued the robotics and automation business. The former ZAP site now functions as an industrial park hosting dozens of businesses and institutions. Today ZAP-Robotyka positions itself as a provider of "highest quality solutions" in robotised stations, technological stations, positioners and technological tooling, serving industrial customers in Poland with integrated engineering, manufacturing, installation and after-sales service.

ZAP-Robotyka's history is inseparable from that of the state industrial automation enterprise ZAP (Zakłady Automatyki Przemysłowej) in Ostrów Wielkopolski. ZAP originated from the merger of two small metal-products factories operating from 1945, initially as Państwowe Zakłady Mechaniczne. From 1949 it was named Fabryka Wyrobów Metalowych im. J. Marchlewskiego. In cooperation with WSK Okęcie, in 1950 it began producing hydraulic jet automation devices of the Askania system. In 1959 it adopted the name Zakłady Automatyki Przemysłowej im. J. Marchlewskiego and developed new automation products: the USB 60 electronic automation system, families of measurement transducers and actuators, electronic data acquisition and processing systems (TM 10, PI, ESIW), sets of two-state and direct controllers, the SAB control set, and an enclosure system. It purchased a licence for the PC4k programmable controller. The works carried out comprehensive automation services — design, manufacture of cabinets and desks, supply of complete equipment sets, and assembly and commissioning on site. In the 1960s it began producing liquid-fuel dispensers, and in the 1980s power supplies for electronic devices and computers, exported in significant quantities to the former USSR. Its organisational structure was mixed: alongside the main plant (about 2,700 people) managed on a line basis, there were three subordinate plants on internal accounting (about 500 people in total). The social and political events of 1980 did not bypass ZAP: in July 1980 a workforce strike preceded the events at the Gdańsk Shipyard. During 1980–1989 ZAP was seen as a centre of Solidarity opposition, though no violent events occurred there. From 1980 there was an elected Workers' Council. The socio-political and economic changes in Poland after 1989, the collapse of the USSR, German reunification and the halt of investment in the former GDR caused a rapid loss of orders. Experienced and reputable competitors appeared on the liberalised market. An additional burden was a large investment in industrial robots and the maintenance of the company school complex. From 1 January 1991 the enterprise's organisational structure was changed to a divisional one, organised around main business lines. Eight plants were created on internal accounting while some head-office functions were retained. From 1 July 1991 the Minister of Ownership Transformation changed ZAP's legal status to a single-shareholder company of the State Treasury. Faced with falling orders, the management took restructuring steps. Three plants (design, experimental production, investment execution) were wound up and privatised. The company school complex was transferred to the Kalisz education authority. In subsequent years auxiliary activities were privatised (social services, printing, service, repair services, production of tools and fasteners, legal services). At the same time quality was maintained: ZAP obtained an ISO 9000 certificate from TUV-CERT-BERLIN, and new methods of planning, budgeting and accounting were introduced using IT techniques. After a capital increase in 1997, ZAP shares were taken up by the First National Investment Fund (NFI) and the Industrial Development Agency, and the State Treasury ceased to be the dominant owner. After adjustments to the scope of activity, the internal plants were transformed and registered as limited companies wholly owned by ZAP, and ZAP then began selling its shares. In most cases a management buy-out took place. In this way privatised entities operating on the ZAP site were created, with abbreviated names including ZAP-KOOPERACJA, ZAP-MECHANIKA, ZAP-ROBOTYKA, METAL-ZAP, TOOL-ZAP and ZAP-Rachunkowość, among others. The First NFI also managed MERA-PNEFAL sp. z o.o. in Warsaw, likewise in the automation sector. An ownership decision was taken to merge the MERA-PNEFAL Automation Systems Plant with ZAP's ZAP-AUTOMATYKA Object Automation Plant, creating CONTROLMATICA ZAP-PNEFAL sp. z o.o., which was taken over by APLISENS S.A. and became its branch. The remaining components of ZAP S.A. and MERA-PNEFAL sp. z o.o. were combined into MERA PNEFAL ZPC S.A., and after a name change finally into MERA METAL S.A. On 1 April 2008 ZAP was struck off the National Court Register (KRS). The former works now (2020) form an industrial park where dozens of businesses and institutions operate, employing more than 1,200 people. ZAP-Robotyka emerged from this privatisation process as one of the management buy-out companies continuing the robotics and automation business. According to its official website, it has operated for more than 30 years in robotics and the automation of production processes, specialising in robotising technologies such as welding, handling and loading, surface treatment and the servicing of technological workstations, and in designing and building assembly, testing and welding stations. It supplies positioners, travel tracks, safety systems, technological tooling, manipulators, software and service, and modernises existing robotic and automated workstations.

• 2020

  The former ZAP works function as an industrial park hosting dozens of businesses and institutions, employing more than 1,200 people.

• 2008

  On 1 April, ZAP is struck off the National Court Register (KRS).

• 1997

  After a capital increase, ZAP shares are taken up by the First National Investment Fund (NFI) and the Industrial Development Agency; the State Treasury ceases to be the dominant owner.

• 1991

  From 1 January, organisational structure changes to a divisional one with eight plants on internal accounting; from 1 July, legal status changes to a single-shareholder company of the State Treasury.

• 1980

  A workforce strike in July precedes the events at the Gdańsk Shipyard; an elected Workers' Council is established.

• 1980

  During the 1980s, begins producing power supplies for electronic devices and computers, exported in significant quantities to the former USSR.

• 1960

  Begins production of liquid-fuel dispensers (during the 1960s).

• 1959

  Adopts the name Zakłady Automatyki Przemysłowej im. J. Marchlewskiego and develops new automation products.

• 1950

  In cooperation with WSK Okęcie, begins producing hydraulic jet automation devices of the Askania system.

• 1949

  Renamed Fabryka Wyrobów Metalowych im. J. Marchlewskiego.

• 1945

  ZAP's predecessor factories, two small metal-products works, begin operating; initially Państwowe Zakłady Mechaniczne.

Provider of highest-quality robotised and automated production solutions, with integrated engineering, manufacturing, installation and service.

• Robotised stations

  Robotic workstations for welding, handling and loading, surface treatment and servicing of technological workstations, equipped with rotary positioners, travel tracks and safety systems.

• Technological stations

  Assembly, testing and welding stations designed and built by the company.

• Positioners

  Rotary positioners used in robotised stations.

• Technological tooling

  Tooling and manipulators for automated production.

• Laboratory services

  Laboratory offer listed among the company's service categories.

• Training and service

  Training and after-sales service, including modernisation of robotic and automated workstations.

1. 1Zap-Robotyka Sp. z o.o. – Zap-Robotyka Sp. z o.o. Automatyka i Robotykazap-robotyka.com.pl
2. 2Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowe ZAP-Robotyka Sp. z o.o. – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowe ZAP-Robotyka – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org